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gracefullypunk's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps a bit too sympathetic to the Romanovs, but at the same time, a good contrast to books that seem to despise Nicholas and Alexandra while devoting a thousand pages to their plight. Massie makes the story fly by, almost like sitting down and having an older relative tell you the stories of yesteryear.
bjm1993's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.75
dilchh's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't have any massive hope when I picked this book up, thinking that since this book was published some years ago, I figured some of the contents would be irrelevant or nothing new to me, but, boy, was I always wrong over and over again when I judged a book before I read it. This book is amazing! First off, don't lead the title fool you, this book does not centre its stories only on Nicholas and Alexandra, though they were definitely the centre of attention, but it covers massively about the turmoil and the history that centres Russia before, during, and ultimately (a little bit of) the end of World War I. It also tells a bit about the history of the early Romanovs, the Russian Orthodox Church, some historical key figures during the captures of the Imperial family that we were familiar with the names but didn't get to know more. What's amazing was the fact that it also tells about what had become of these people after the execution of the Imperial family.
I like the fact that this book started of as trying to understand a family's struggle in having a hemophiliac son (seeing that the writer also had a hemophiliac son), it expands beautifully into a weave of intricate piece of history. The story-telling was very smooth, that at some point I thought I was reading a novel instead of a history book. It also puts Empress Alexandra in a light that everyone at that time seen her, but reading about in this new century it still brought question about her true nature in the last years before the Tsar's abdication. And true to every story about this particular Imperial family, there will always be a story about the ever mysterious figure of Rasputin. People perceive him as this evil looming figure of the downfall of the Romanov dynasty, but at the same time he was surrounded by this huge shroud of mystery that even today no one can definitely say for sure of his true nature. Not to mention his last letter to the Tsar before his murder, whatever does that mean? No one will no for sure. Luckily for me, the author took the time in telling Rasputin layer by layer while still leaving it up to the reader what to make of Rasputin's role in Russia.
For me personally, though he may not be the Man of God that the Empress see him to be, he definitely was not that cunning in trying to actually bringing the dynasty down for political reason.
I like the fact that this book started of as trying to understand a family's struggle in having a hemophiliac son (seeing that the writer also had a hemophiliac son), it expands beautifully into a weave of intricate piece of history. The story-telling was very smooth, that at some point I thought I was reading a novel instead of a history book. It also puts Empress Alexandra in a light that everyone at that time seen her, but reading about in this new century it still brought question about her true nature in the last years before the Tsar's abdication. And true to every story about this particular Imperial family, there will always be a story about the ever mysterious figure of Rasputin. People perceive him as this evil looming figure of the downfall of the Romanov dynasty, but at the same time he was surrounded by this huge shroud of mystery that even today no one can definitely say for sure of his true nature. Not to mention his last letter to the Tsar before his murder, whatever does that mean? No one will no for sure. Luckily for me, the author took the time in telling Rasputin layer by layer while still leaving it up to the reader what to make of Rasputin's role in Russia.
For me personally, though he may not be the Man of God that the Empress see him to be, he definitely was not that cunning in trying to actually bringing the dynasty down for political reason.
halynah's review against another edition
5.0
Emotionally heartbreaking and tragic story of two beautiful and worthy people and their children, who in any other country would be respected and appreciated, but in Russia they were tortured and brutally killed by the monsters, who called themselves Bolsheviks and who later slayed millions of people and tortured in camps even more. Humanity is pitiful, if it allowed such monsters to exist for so many years.
siraels's review against another edition
4.0
It truly took me a while to get through because I was going through (and still am) some personal problems and didn't feel like reading during the whole month. I decided to really put some effort into reading and finishing it before the end of the month, mainly because it is huge and I wanted to get it over with. I still read only two books in November which is the least since maybe like ten years ago but who cares, honestly. My mental health comes first. It was a really good read, though. With me you can do no wrong with the Romanovs. I read another book about them which focused more on the sisters so it was interesting to read something which focused more on the tsar and tsarina. It was also very thorough and talked about things in more details. Only putting one star down (it's difficult to rate non-fiction books because you can't rate it based on your enjoyment) because it included some historical discrepancies, mainly about age and other things which was a little annoying. I only noticed the main problems (Olga being 20 years old before the war when she was 18 at most, Maria being born in May when she was actually born in June) which were factual and I could look them up easily so who knows if there were more of them.
elaineeagle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
5.0
A fantastic read. History that reads like fiction, a heart wrenching story of a family. Loved the author’s writing style and fairness.
philanacrouch's review against another edition
5.0
I forgot to write a review when I read this book. I enjoyed reading this book about the last Romanov rulers. Worth reading.
taneilcasey's review against another edition
5.0
This book was incredible. I learned so much that I never knew before about the last Czar and his family, the events leading up to the Revolution, and the Russian Revolution itself. I had no idea that so much politics were involved, although it should have been obvious. Rasputin was much more of an influence then I ever imagined. He was also much more disgusting than I ever imagined, and if you are going to read this book, I would be careful when reading the parts about Rasputin.
This book shows the life of Nicholas Romanov clear from before he was married, to the end of his life in the cellar of a house in the Ural Mountains. You learn to know the personality of the Czar, the hardships that his family endured. You come to know the family, and mourn heavily at the end.
I also learned a lot about a part of history that I never learned much about, and it was facinating. I am becoming more and more interested in Russian History, and this book was amazing in how it showed how each separate event came together as a whole, to influence people, Russia, and the world.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Russia, and the last Czar, only, as I said, please use discretion in reading the parts about Rasputin.
This book shows the life of Nicholas Romanov clear from before he was married, to the end of his life in the cellar of a house in the Ural Mountains. You learn to know the personality of the Czar, the hardships that his family endured. You come to know the family, and mourn heavily at the end.
I also learned a lot about a part of history that I never learned much about, and it was facinating. I am becoming more and more interested in Russian History, and this book was amazing in how it showed how each separate event came together as a whole, to influence people, Russia, and the world.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Russia, and the last Czar, only, as I said, please use discretion in reading the parts about Rasputin.
jlbates's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book, and in a sense I did. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about a period of history I came to realize I knew very little about, and it gave a thorough picture into people only really spoken of in legend (Romanovs, Rasputin, Lenin, etc).
However, in an effort to be thorough the author spends so long discussing very trivial matters that it is exhausting. I hit the 50% mark and couldn't believe after all of that reading I still had so much to go. I enjoyed the writing style of the author, just not the lack of brevity around (what I at least considered) trivial matters. I hate giving up on a book I started, but at 50% I was for too interested in reading other things and wikipedia made an acceptable summary of the action yet to come.
However, in an effort to be thorough the author spends so long discussing very trivial matters that it is exhausting. I hit the 50% mark and couldn't believe after all of that reading I still had so much to go. I enjoyed the writing style of the author, just not the lack of brevity around (what I at least considered) trivial matters. I hate giving up on a book I started, but at 50% I was for too interested in reading other things and wikipedia made an acceptable summary of the action yet to come.